The Iowa Board of Health took the final step Wednesday to make it easier for Iowans to adopt kids from other countries. The board adopted rules for a new law which recognizes foreign adoption proceedings and no longer forces parents to go through a second adoption process in Iowa. Heidi Grave of West Des Moines works at an adoption agency and has adopted a Russian boy.She says Iowa was one of the last states to adopt the new law which allows the kids to automatically become citizens of Iowa and the United States. Grace says parents will save several hundred dollars in adoption fees under the new law.Deb Thompson of Ankeny adopted a girl from Russia in November of 2001.She says this is the last step in the process that makes the girl her daughter forever. State officials say there were 180 foreign kids adopted by Iowans last year.
